Fastening of a cap on a container

• US 6,510,675 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Polytype SA
• Original Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Polytype SA
• Inventors: Strässler, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/451,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 534/90, 533/17, 533/315
• US Class Current: 53/490
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/14 Closing collapsible or resilient tubes, e.g. for tooth paste, for lighter fuel
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20

Abstract

During the fastening of a cap (2) on a container (1), the container (1) and the cap (2) are positioned in a starting position in relation to one another and subsequently connected to one another in a positive-locking and preferably also non-positive manner. The cap (2) is held during the positioning by a clamping grip. The positioned cap (2) is taken over by a non-clamping holding mechanism (5), and the clamping grip of the cap (2) is released before the positive-locking and preferably also non-positive connection.

Claims

1. The process for fastening a cap to a container, which cap and container are provided with engaging structure cooperating for the purpose of fastening, the process comprising the steps of:

positioning the container and the cap in a starting position in relation to one another by holding a cap with a clamping grip during the positioning;

connecting a non-clamping holding device to the cap;

releasing the clamping grip of the cap after positioning;

subsequent to said step of releasing the clamping grip, connecting the cap to the container whereby the cap is held as the container is moved, or the cap is moved relative to the container by the connection of the non-clamping holding device to the cap, up to a desired tightening torque.

2. The process in accordance with the claim 1, wherein the container and the cap are screwed together.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said clamping holding means releases its clamping grip of the cap when said non-clamping holding means is fastened to the cap, and said non-clamping holding means holds the cap during a relative movement of the cap and the container to establish the connection with the container.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a bearing connection between said contact piece and said friction coupling said bearing connection permitting only free relative movement between said contact piece and said connection piece that is in a direction opposite a relative movement of the container and of the engaging cap.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said bearing is a pivot bearing.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact piece and said connection piece are connected to one another by a bearing for relative rotational movement between said contact piece and said connection piece.

8. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bearing is a pivot bearing.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said non-clamping holding means includes a suction source associated with said contact piece.

10. The device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said suction source is brought into contact with the cap positioned by said clamping holding means by means of said contact piece designed as a suction tube and is fastened thereto by suction.

3. A device for fastening a cap on a container, which container and cap are provided with engaging means cooperating for the purpose of fastening, the device comprising:

a positioning means for positioning the container;

a holding and positioning means with a clamping holding means, which clampingly holds the cap and positions same in a starting position in relation to said container, said clamping holding means engaging the cap to connect the cap to the container in a positive-locking manner and said holding and positioning means also including a non-clamping holding means movable in relation to said clamping holding means, said non-clamping holding means connecting said cap to said container by a forced relative movement, said non-clamping holding means including a contact piece in contact with said cap and a friction coupling that is engagable and disengagable with said contact piece to hold said contact piece up to a defined frictional force between said contact piece and said friction coupling.

11. A device for fastening a cap with a thread fastening portion on to a container with a corresponding cooperating thread fastening portion to be engaged with the cap fastening portion, the device comprising:

a container holding positioner for positioning of the container or for rotating the container in a position relative to the held cap;

a cap holding and positioning device for positioning the cap or for rotating the cap in a position relative to the held container including;

a clamping device for clamping contact with the sidewall of the cap for initially positioning the cap;

a contact device with a contact element contacting a top surface of the cap for holding the cap during relative rotation of the cap and container for fastening together the cap thread fastening portion to the container thread fastening portion and with a support connection part for rotating or holding the contact element, said contact device being holdable of the cap after said clamping device releases the cap in order for the contact device to rotate the cap onto the container.

12. The device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a friction connection between said contact element and said support connection part for allowing the contact element to move relative to the support connection part above a desired tightening torque.

13. The device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a bearing between said contact element and said support connection part for allowing the contact element to move freely relative to the support connection part in one direction.

14. The device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said bearing is a pivot bearing.

15. The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said clamping device releases a clamping grip on the cap when upon relative movement of the cap and the container whereby only the contact element is in contact with the cap to hold or rotate the cap to fully engage the fastening portion of the cap with the fastening portion of the container.

16. The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said contact element and said support connection part are connected to one another by a bearing for relative rotational movement between said contact element and said connection part.

17. The device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said bearing is a pivot bearing.

18. The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said contact device includes a suction source in contact with the cap via said contact piece, said contact piece having at least one opening surrounded by a suction surface engaging the upper surface of the cap.

19. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said contact device is movable away from said clamping device while said contact device is holding the cap and the cap is released by said clamping device.